I know you all work, and are still able to solve. But, I need to be able to give myself ample time for solving, b/c I never know when I am going to run into one that takes me forever. I am generally a slow online solver, and I care about my solving percentage. I have a low-paying freelance writing job--I have to write 3 articles a day, and it took me all day! Then, I am addicted to scrapbooking and cardmaking, and I am doing a project for kids for which i'd like to do 50 cards (I did not have this obsession the last time I was online here). I am making cards now. Since I've been back online, I haven't solved that many puzzles. And I leave Saturday to go to Nashville to help my mother move. All of my extra time i will need for writing. Well, something's gotta give! I am having crypto-withdraw symptroms! At least when I was doing paper and pencil puzzles, I could start every day with some solving fun. Penny Press puzzles are easier, and I was able to whip thru about a dozen at the start of each day (that is not to say I am going back to that--ain't gonna happen). How do you guys find the time to solve your thousands of puzzles?

PS--I am stopping the card-making so I can solve. I am hopelessly behind, but it will have to stay that way for another night! I MUST solve some cryptos!

As an ex avid solver ...short answer...I had no life hence I spent hours and hours here.
Some of the older players who arent playing anymore would have marathon nights
play all night long, chat ...it was fun!!

As your speed improves you will solve more puzzles, I think there's a math equation in
there somewhere..P 7 would know it!! She's smart. (scary smart but a lovely lady)

Not sure if that answers your question, not awake yet, LOL.

Take care and pleasant solving.

__________________Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death.

Yes, being retired, unemployed, or under-employed generally gives one the time to solve way more puzzles than everyone else. I don't have that kind of time now (yeah! better paycheck!), but I still find a little time each day to unwind and give my neurons a work-out. I say everyone should play as long as they're having a good time. If being here makes you stressed because you should be doing something else, go do that thing. This is a hobby. Life is out there, waiting to be lived.

Kimmie,
I agree with Lurker....this SHOULD be fun and not something you feel compelled to do at the cost of LIVING! I think that helping your Mother move (kudos to you for being such a wonderful daughter) will give you a bit of a break from solving and you'll find that life goes on....even without cryptograms

Some of us who play are retired (myself) or partially so, which gives us a lot more time to play. But while it's fun to be in the top 10, that is never my objective....I play because it keeps my brain working and I have fun doing it.

I hope the move goes smoothly. Moving has got to be the biggest PITA in the world!

alright: I see your point. I have an amazing amount of fun doing cryptos, and I would do them all day if I could. but the same is true for making scrapbooks and greeting cards. I need to find a balance somehow. I want to solve as many as I can b4 I leave, bc when I get back, I am starting training to be a CNA. But i also want to make as many cards for kids as I can in that same amount of time. The cards go to a camp for abussed/neglected children, and i want to contribute 50 for this summer's camp. I am nowhere close. I also need to keep my promise to write 3 articles a day, even if it is at sweat-shop wages. This job pays so little bc there are people overseas who will write articles for thirty cents. (however, they are not native English speakers, and I have fun when I come across some articles they have written: my fave is one person who wrote," these are selling like pancakes").

Good for you....training to be a CNA! It's hard work, but you might find that you enjoy it so much you'll continue on with further training. Most hospitals, once you are employed, offer generous amounts of funding because there is such a huge shortage of nurses around the world, and especially in the US.
Usually, they will pay a years worth of tuition for each year that you promise to work for them AFTER getting that degree....and then you can go anywhere in the world you want!

You're a thoughtful girl to be making cards for those kids, and I'm sure you'll get a ton of self-satisfaction from finishing that project.
Cryptograms will always be here when you have time to play.

I do not know how far I will go with nursing. It is my understanding that CNAs have the most direct patient contact, which is what I want to do. I want to do stuff like re-positioning people for comfort, helping them bathe and use the restroom, etc. My grandma died about a month ago, and I believe it was the CNAs who did the stuff like that.

I am an ex-scholar and a teacher education drop out. Got as far as student teaching last fall b4 realizing high school education is not for me. Teaching in HS has nothing at all to do with teaching! Was going to enroll in a Vet Tech program, but during grandma's emergency, I found that I have the ability to comfort the sick and suffering. At 41, it's kinda late to be starting my career. I have been in school for more years than I care to remember. Won't bore you with the long story. Suffice it to say that my degrees do not easily translate into jobs. But I think I have finally found my life's calling in being a CNA.

I love making greeting cards. The kids at teh camp each get a card a day. They always get a bunch of girl cards and not enough for boys: I want to do some for boys, but my flowers, hearts and butterflies won't work!